Wall tie for concrete forms



May 27, 1941. c. A. KINNINGERl WALL TIE FOR CONCR'ETEFORMS Fiied July 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wing? A will May 27, 1941. c. A. KINNINGER WALL TIE FOR CONCRETE FORMS 2 sheets-sheet* 2 Filed July 17, 1939-l Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL TIE FOR `CONCRETE FORMS Carl A. Kinninger, Dayton, Ohio Application July 17, .1939, Serial No. 284,849

14 Claims.

This invention pertains to concrete form construction, an'd more particularly to a duofunctional wall tie and spacer assembly for maintaining the opposite walls of a form in predetermined spaced relation.

It has long been the practice to resist separation of form walls by interconnecting tie wires or rods subjected to tension strain, and to prevent collapse of the forms by interposed spacers between the walls. More recently, spacer heads. cross arms or buttons have been provided directly on the tie rods for abutting engagement with the interior faces of the form walls. Such spacers leave imprints or depressions in the nished surface of the concrete wall, which require an additional operation to fill and conceal. The present invention utilizes a conventional form of headed rod as a duofunctional tie and spacer by providing limiting abutments exteriorly of the form structure which resist end play of the tie rods.

The present application is a continuation in part of copending application Serial No. 700,207, filed November 29, 1933.

'Ihe object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of concrete form tie assemblies, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured and installed, but will be more emcient in use, be subject to both compression and tension strain, of maximum strength and resistance, and unlikely to yield while in use.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a duofunctional form tie and spacer assembly which will obvlate formation of indentations or disflgurement of the face of the finished concrete wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide in association with a form tie, limiting stop means outside the chamber of the form for resisting collapse or approach of the form walls and for maintaining them in predetermined relatively spaced relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tensioning wedge usable with a conventional form of headed tie rod having a thrust bearing surface for the rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide a duofunctional wedge usable with a conventional form tie resisting alternate tension and compression strains. A further object of the invention is to provide a means and method of assembling concrete forms without the necessity of interior spacer devices.

A further object of the invention i's to provide a means and method of avoiding imprints and markings in the finished surfaces of concrete structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall tie thrust-resistant abutment located exteriorly of the form for minimizing end play of a tie rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall tie assembly having the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious characteristics herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein are shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a concrete form in which is utilized a wall tie embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of -a portion of a concrete form disclosing a wall tie assembly of the present character.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the disconnected wedge and tie abutment.

Figs. 5 'and 6 are sectional views of modifications.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a wedge of different design having duo-functional tensioning and thrust bearings.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the Wedge shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of a concrete form and molded structure showing the present duo-functional type of tensioning and thrust resistant wedge applied to the tie rod.

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a side view and end elevation of an alternative form of thrust stop associated with a tie rod.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a further modification of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the construction of concrete forms, the walls thereof must necessarily be supported against separation under internal bursting pressure of the semi-fluid concrete poured therein. They must also be supported against collapse or appreach of the walls one toward the other before being lled with concrete. It has long been the practice to tie the walls together by Wires or rods which under tension strain resist bursting pressure of the concrete. Spacer buttons, cross arms, plugs, and other deformations upon the rods having abutting engagement with the interior faces of the form. Walls have been extensively used to temporarily hold the walls in relatively spaced relation. The marks or depressions left in the finished surfaces of the molded concrete by such spacers require an additional operation to ll and conceal. In the present instance the interior faces of the form walls are left flush and clear of protuberances-or con- `gurations which would be reproduced in the molded concrete body. The Walls are eXteriorly supported against approach or collapse, aswell as against spreading movement by the same wall ties. To this end a thrust abutment is provided for the tie rod, which is resistant to compression strains thereon.

Referring to the drawings, I-I are co-nventional concrete form walls supported in upright parallel relation by external supporting studding 2 and horizontal Walers 3. Disposed at spaced intervals are transverse tie rods 4, which project through the side walls I and thence past the studding and through the walers 3, The tie rods 4 are provided at their extremities with one or more relativelyspaced heads 5. The rods 4 are subjected to tension strain and the walls I-I relatively adjusted into predetermined spaced relation by longitudinally slotted Wedges 6. These wedges 5 straddle the protruding ends of the rods 5 intermediate the walers 3 and the heads 5 of the rods. The wedges bear at one side on the waler face and the opposite side upon the rod head 5. By their adjustment they serve to tight.- en the rods and take up play or lcoseness of the walls, conning them to vpredetermined dimensions. Such assembly enables the form walls to resist bursting strains and prevents separation. However, to prevent approach or collapse of the form walls in the` absence of internal spacers, there are provided in association with the Wedges 6 thrust abutments exteriorly of the form walls, with which the ends of the tie rods engage and which resist compression strains.

As shown in the drawings, the furcations of the wedges are i'lxedly interconnected by an offset yoke 1. This yoke 1 forms a seat and fulcrum for an independent thrust abutment or lever 8. This thrust abutment or lever 8 when engaged with the yoke overlies the terminal end of the tie rod and extends along the length of the Wedge, and is secured above its fulcrum point to the waler by a nail 9 driven through a conveniently located hole Ill in the abutment or lever and between the legs of the wedge. The abutment or lever 8 resists end thrust of the rod and confines the wall to its adjusted relation.

In lieu of the yoke 'I disposed transversely of the slotted wedge,` the head of the wedge may be formed as in Fig. l2 with an overhanging lip II, which will form a fulcrum for the thrust abutment or lever 8, which is then engaged in an inverted position. In such mode of assembly, the attachment nail 8, by which the abutment or lever 8 is secured, is driven between the furcations of the wedge. The nail thus assists in maintaining the wedge in upright position. For convenience of wrecking or dismantling the forms, the nails 9 are preferably, although not necessarily, of the double headed variety, this enabling the form wrecker to more easily engage it for withdrawal with his hammer claw or wrecking bar.

While for economy of production and conven ience of assembly the thrust abutment 8 is preferably formed separately from the wedge, such abutment surface may be integral with the wedge, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the yoke 'I is extended throughout a considerable portion of the length of the wedge at 7a. In such relation, the head of the rod will abut upon the extended yoke or bridging portion 'Ia throughout the normal range of adjustment of the wedge.

The duo-functional tensioning and thrust resistant Wedge may be formed from heavy sheet or plate material, as is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In this instance, the initially flat blank is formed upon itself into a slotted wedge formation, having a longitudinal slot I2 closed at its outer side at I3 and opposite lateral grooves I4, which communicate with the slot I 2 to receive the'head 5 of the rod. The margins of the initial blank are outturned at I5 to afford bearing wings having engagement with the form structure,` as is shown in the plan view Fig. 9.

'I'o enable a further range of adjustment, the wedge may have a plurality of parallel grooves I4 communicating with longitudinal slot, as in Fig. 6, in either one of which the head 5 of the rod may be engaged in alternate tension and thrust resisting relation. Thus, the wedge isl readily adaptable to rod extremities which project greater or less distance from the form side.

In Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a further modification of the invention. In these figures, two rods I6, which extend across the area defined by the form walls, are connected by means of a connecting member Il' with a rod I8 which extends outwardly through the form walls. The rod I8 is headed as at I9, and the head bears against a plate 2) surrounding the rod and secured to the Waler of the form wall. By rotating the rod I8, the form wall is adjusted laterally by reason of the screw-threaded connection between the inner end of the rod I8 and the connecting member I'I. In lieu of form wall spreaders a member EI is provided on the plate 20 to overlie the head I9 of the rod I8 and thus prevent approach movement of the spaced form walls along the rod I8.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages` While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specic as tov structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed inany of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. For use with a concrete form tie rod, a longitudinally slotted wedge for straddle engagement with a tie rod intermediate a form structure and a protuberance on the rod for subjecting the rod to tension strain by adjustment relative to the rod, and which wedge in its adjusted position is secured to the form wall,'a seat on said wedge for an abutment lever, an abutment lever engaged with said seat against which a portion of the rod abuts and which resists compression strains 'upon the rod, and means for securing the abutment lever in its rod resisting relation.

2. For use with a concrete form. tie rod to limit separation and approach movement of the form walls by means exteriorly of the area defined by the form, a longitudinally slotted wedge for straddle engagement with a tie rod intermediate a form structure and a protuberance on the rod for subjecting the rod to tension strain by adjustment relative to the rod, and which wedge in its adjusted position is secured to a form wall, and a thrust abutment portion upon the wedge against which a portion of the rod has longitudinal thrust engagement in opposition to ccmpression strains upon the rod.

3. For use with a concrete form tie rod to limit separation and approach movement of the form walls by means exteriorly of the area dened by the form, a longitudinally slotted wedge for straddle engagement with `a tie rod intermediate a form structure and a protuberance on the rod for subjecting the rod to tension strain by adjustment relative to the rod, and which Wedge in its adjusted position is secured to a form wall, and a separable thrust abutment member detachably engageable with the wedge in compression resisting relation with the rod.

4. For use with a concrete form tie rod to limit separation a-nd approach movement of the form walls by means exteriorly of the area defined by the form, interconnecting spaced form walls and projecting therebeyond, a thrust abutment member located exteriorly of the concrete form and overhanging a portion of the rod protruding therefrom in thrust resisting relation thereto for opposition to compression strains of the rod and holding the spaced form wall against approach of one toward the other, the thrust abutment member being secured to the form wall to limit approach movement of the form wall.

5. A duo-functional wedge for use with a headed tie rod for concrete forms to limit separation and approach movement of the form walls by means exteriorly of the area defined by the form walls, and which wedge is ultimately secured to the form wall, including an angularly disposed working surface engageable with one side of the rod head for subjecting the rod to tensioning strain, and a thrust abutment surface on said Wedge with which the opposite side of the head is engageable for limiting relative end play of the rod.

6. A restraining element for use with a headed form tie for concrete forms, including a longitudinally grooved tapered wedge adjustable transversely of the rod, and which wedge in its adjusted position is secured to a form wall, the bottom of the groove being closed and affording a thrust abutment for the end of the rod, and a lateral groove communicating with the first groove in which the head of the rod is engageable to resist tension strain.

'7. A restraining wedge for use with a headed concrete form tie, the wedge being adjustable transversely of the rod and secured to a form wall in its adjusted position and having therein an undercut groove of substantially T shape in cross section, the lateral extensions of said groove being in longitudinal divergent relation with a working face of the wedge.

8. A slotted wedge for a wall tie interconnecting the walls of a concrete form in relatively spaced relation, and coacting with the tie to subject the tie to tension strain, the wedge being secured to the form wall, and a lever member fulcrumed on said wedge and bearing upon the end of the rod for resisting compression strains of said rod, and restraining means for the lever.

9. vA longitudinally slotted wedge to straddle the projecting portion of a wall tie interconnecting the walls of a concrete form in relatively spaced relation, and beyond which at least one end of the rod projects, and by its adjustment relative thereto subjecting the rod to tensioning strain, the wedge in its `adjusted position being secured to the form walls, a recessed seat on the longitudinally slotted Wedge for a thrust member and a detachable thrust abutment member to be seated therein in overlapping relation with the end of the rod.

10. A longitudinally slotted wedge to straddle the projecting portion of a wall tie interconnecting the Walls of a concrete form in relatively spaced relation, and beyond which at least one end of the rod projects, and by its adjustment relative thereto subjecting the rod to tensioning strain, the wedge in its adjusted position being secured to the form wall, a lever fulcrumed on said wedge in overhanging relation with the end of the rod, and means to lock the lever in adjusted position to resist end thrust of the rod thereagainst.

11. In a. tie for concrete forms wherein form walls are held in spaced relation by a tie rod extending across the area defined by the form and through the form walls, and a wedge having straddle engagement with a projecting end of the rod intermediate the form wall and a protuberance on the rod ior subjecting the rod to tension strain by adjustment relative to the rod and thereby limit separation movement of the form walls, and which wedge is movable lengthwise of the rod and in its adjusted position is secured to the form wall, means for limiting approach movement of the form walls including a seat on said wedge, and a member associated with said seat and against which a portion of the rod abuts to resist inward movement of a form wall along the rod.

12. In a tie for concrete forms wherein form walls are held in spaced relation by a tie rod extending across the area defined by the form and through the form walls, and a member having straddle engagement with a projecting end of the rod intermediate the form wall and a protuberance on the rod to limit separation movement of the form walls, and which member is movable lengthwise of the rod and is secured to the form Wall, means for limiting approach movement of the form walls including an abutment member associ-ated with the member having straddle engagement with the rod and against winch a portion of the rod abuts to resist inward movement of the form` wall along the rod.

13. A wedge for use with a headed wall tie for concrete forms and the like, including a base, a plurality of relatively spaced substantially parallel surfaces angularly disposed relative to the base and forming therebetween a compartment within which the integral head of a wall tie is engageable for relative sliding movement of the wedge and tie head, the inclined surfaces being so spaced and so inclined that the distance between the base and adjacent wall surface ofthe compartment are spaced apart at the head of the Wedge a greater distance than the space between said base and the extreme Wall surface Iat the entering end of the Wedge.

14. A wedge for use with a headed Wall tie for concrete forms and the like, including a base, a plurality of relatively spaced surfaces anguIa-rly disposed relative to the base and forming therebetween a compartment so constructed and arranged as to limit movement of the wedge longil0 the Wedge.

CARL A. KINNINGER. 

